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Author Topic:   The E-TEC 15 H.O. Has Arrived

Hilinercc posted 02-23-2010 11:21 AM ET (US)
I just got an email from BRP announcing the the new E-TEC 15 H.O. Looks like they're using the 25-30-HP platform. I'm not sure how a 177-lbs 15-inch or 183-lbs 20-inch 15-HP motor is going to sell, maybe for the pontoon boat guys. With that kind of weight, the 20-HP Mercury-Tohatsu at 115-lbs is gonna kill them.
For comparison, my 1973 Johnson 25-HP weighs 85-lbs, and my 1993 Evinrude 25 weighs 115-lbs.
It'll be interesting to hear your thoughts.
Buckda posted 02-23-2010 11:24 AM ET (US)
My thought is that I agree - they're gonna get killed, except in the pontoon market (maybe).
I think history will judge this as a mistake - they should have waited to introduce the smaller, lighter version they're still developing, then LATER unveil this detuned "HO" engine.
The market perception damage will occur now. The new engines (still in development) will have an uphill battle to overcome those perceptions. Mistake.
That is my opinion.
number9 posted 02-23-2010 11:45 AM ET (US)
Puzzled why they decided to give the HO designation when it's a de-tuned 25/30hp. Granted compared to other 15s available it should prove to be a HO comparatively if used on a boat large enough not to be slowed down by its' weight.
bassguy posted 02-23-2010 11:46 AM ET (US)
You would be hard put to find many pontoon boats (other than the mini 10 foot fishing platforms) sporting a 15 hp these days. The trend in my lakes is towards I/O drives on the pontoons, or at the least 40hp and up (we've got one guy sporting two what must be 100+ engines on a pontoon on a small inland lake, you figure it out!).
andygere posted 02-23-2010 11:54 AM ET (US)
Doesn't seem to play as a kicker. Looks like it might be targeted towards the tin skiff crowd as primary propulsion. Electric T/T sounds nice, but how much weight is that adding? Looks like I'll be running my old 2-smoke Merc 15 a while longer.
Re. the H.O. designation, perhaps that's a hint that the small displacement is on the way.
Hilinercc posted 02-23-2010 12:08 PM ET (US)
An engine that heavy on a tin skiff would be brutal, I would also think that it would be a waste on a 13 Whaler when one could get twice the power with the same platform.
Interestingly, its being advertised from what looks like a 4-blade power prop, so perhaps speed is not intended here, but still, that would be one HEAVY Kicker.
Don88outrage posted 02-23-2010 12:27 PM ET (US)
Was looking at that motor for a boat I'm building, if it's 177 lbs. I may be looking elseware. Will report back after seeing it this weekend at the Hartford Sportsmans Show, Atlantic Outboard from Westbrook, Ct. will have one there.
contender posted 02-23-2010 12:33 PM ET (US)
I agree Hilinercc and number9, to much weight to little power, Don88outrage purchased a 25 hp yamaha 2 stroke last year, weight in at 105 pounds...
Ridge Runner posted 02-23-2010 12:36 PM ET (US)
Interesting spec's:
20" Shaft 15HP:
E-TEC 15HO - 578cc - 177lbs
Mercury 15Pro - 323cc - 135lbs
Tohatsu 15CEFL - 351cc - 124lbs
Yamaha F15 - 362cc - 115lbs
Suzuki DF15 - 302cc - 107lbs
mgeiger posted 02-23-2010 12:45 PM ET (US)
Yes maybe pontoon guys on restricted lakes/ponds. Maybe duck boat duty? - I've been offroading per-se in a heavy guage warbird through icy flooded timber in AR, and that motor took a beating. Power wasn't a big deal - just durability.
L H G posted 02-23-2010 05:01 PM ET (US)
A heavy weight 15 Horse High Output engine sounds like a ridiculous idea to me also. They've got to be kidding. What purpose or market niche does a "high performance" 15 fill? None.
I basically think it's only a marketing gimick, just so they can show SOMETHING below 25 HP. The other four brands have the below 25 market sewed up, with the black painted Mercury/Tohatsu/Nissan 4-stroke engines the combined volume leader, available through many of the big discounters and Marine catalog stores. Those guys move a lot of engines.
Maybe it is targeted at the Bass market, as a heavy weight kicker, to help sell the bigger engines. All of the other bass engines can be matched to a same brand kicker, usually 9.9 HP, with power trim, electric start, etc, so having no matching kicker could be problem for Evinrude. What guy wants to buy a 250HO Etec and match it up to a Merc or Yamaha kicker? Might as well get the Merc Optimax for your big engine too.
fourdfish posted 02-23-2010 08:30 PM ET (US)
I have a 15hp 2stroke Evinrude as a kicker. Who cares what brand kicker you put on the transom? Larry, you probably match your underwear.
By marketing that engine until the other lighter weight
engine is ready does not hurt BRP. It cost little to
de-tune the engine and I just cannot see how it will hurt their image. What perception will it hurt? They may not sell many but I just don't see it hurting them at this time in this market.
DeeVee posted 02-23-2010 10:54 PM ET (US)
Has anyone heard the suggested retail price yet?
The March edition of Saltwater Sportsmen reports the price as $8895, with tiller.
Yikes!
Doug
Russ 13 posted 02-23-2010 11:03 PM ET (US)
In this case 15 H.O. must mean 15 HP. HEAVY OUTBOARD.
Maybe good for a blowboat kicker.....except for the shaft length & price.What were they thinking???
PPPSSSTT hey buddy would you hand me that Yamaha Diesel outboard....I think it's lighter.
Don88outrage posted 02-24-2010 08:38 AM ET (US)
According to the dealer it outputs the torque equivelant of a 20 hp. Even if that's true, at 177 lbs. and a price of $8895 I'll be looking at the Yamaha's. The 70's era 18-25 hp OMC's we're light enough to lift on or off a transom by an average strength man and we're great long lasting motors. Needing a mechanical lift to put a 15 hp on a transom doesn't seem right.
Hilinercc posted 02-24-2010 08:56 AM ET (US)
It will certainly be interesting to see what service these motors will be put into. I seriously doubt we'll see any large numbers of them.
8k and change seems rather much for a 15, considering the 25 and 30 are under 4k.
Perhaps the lightweight 9.9 and 15 hp motors that BRP has been working have some design snags or maybe the current economy makes it cost prohibitive to tool up for a production run at this time.
You know they gotta sell alot of the little motors to justify the tooling and production costs.
Buckda posted 02-24-2010 09:24 AM ET (US)
NO WAY the price is $8K.
That is just shy of the MSRP for a 90 HP E-TEC.
an86carrera posted 02-24-2010 09:39 AM ET (US)
I have an E-TEC but this one is ridiculous.
Len
gnr posted 02-24-2010 09:45 AM ET (US)
The significantly higher displacement over it's competitors will give it a significant increase in torque down low. Probably not a good fit as an auxiliary motor for pleasure boaters but I can see it as potentially being a great little workboat motor.
Whether or not the market for that application is large enough to support adequate sales remains to be seen.
Salty Tricks posted 02-24-2010 10:01 AM ET (US)
I saw in the current Saltwater Sportsman that they have this previewed as a 4 stroke with the aforementioned $8,895 price tag.
Buckda posted 02-24-2010 10:06 AM ET (US)
I have a feeling that the editors at Saltwater Sportsman were asleep on the job recently.
1. It is not a Four stroke.
2. I have serious and deep seated doubt that the MSRP is $8,000++
Buckda posted 02-24-2010 10:41 AM ET (US)
Try $3,395.
Teak Oil posted 02-24-2010 11:45 AM ET (US)
It would be the king of the lake on bodies of water with a 15hp limit I guess
Don88outrage posted 02-24-2010 12:00 PM ET (US)
Interesting reading on E-Tec 15 HO in this similar discussion on another website.
L H G posted 02-24-2010 01:46 PM ET (US)
If it complies with the ten-percent rule, it's power is only 16.5HP.
Ridge Runner posted 02-24-2010 02:22 PM ET (US)
Interesting insights (not mine) on the 15 H.O.: [Long cut an paste given without attribution from an article posted on another website which has frequently been cited.]
DeeVee posted 02-24-2010 11:44 PM ET (US)
I look forward to the official pricing information. $8895 seemed totally over the top to me. As Dave said, Saltwater Sportsman editors may have been asleep at the wheel. $3395 seems way more in line.
Doug Vazquez
rong posted 02-25-2010 12:22 AM ET (US)
Call Eds Marine. I'm sure they can give you a price.
number9 posted 02-25-2010 12:51 AM ET (US)
Though not listed, think it's fair to say pricing will be close to their 25hp. Again as mentioned, if on a HP limited weight pushing a heavier boat it should be a good choice over smaller displacement motors. It may also be a good choice for some offshore fishing boats with higher HP twins/inboards without transom weight issues to use as a kicker just to reduce main engine hours. It may weight the same as an E-Tec 35/30 but there seams to be a reluctance to using using a kicker badged higher than the norm. Do not see it flying off the shelves but should have a niche market until/if BRP develops some kickers we can relate to.
jimh posted 02-26-2010 01:01 AM ET (US)
The E-TEC 15 H.O. appears to be targeted to certain applications such as:
--trolling motor
--horse-power limited applications
As a trolling motor
Features of the 15 H.O. are said to include throttle response that permits very precise engine speed control. This will be important to anglers using a trolling technique who need to set the trolling speed with accuracy and consistency. The 15 H.O. has the E-TEC feature of Touch Troll, an advanced electronic speed control which can vary engine speed up or down in 50-RPM increments. The engine can also idle as low as 620-RPM.
The propeller design is also apparently optimized to permit excellent thrust. Good reverse thrust is also useful for a fishing technique in which the boat is trolled in reverse (called "back trolling").
The engine mounting bracket is also apparently engineered to survive extreme loads seen in modern fishing boats. These boats are often driven extremely hard in rough conditions. The mounting bracket is apparently designed to tolerate the sort of stress and loading that can result from flying through waves at high speeds.
The 15 H.O. also has high alternator charging current output. Modern fishing boats often have significant electrical loads and can consume a lot of electrical current. The alternator provides 15-amperes of charging current, about double of other motors in the horsepower class.
Horsepower limited applications
For waters where horsepower limits are imposed, the 15 H.O. should be a candidate for those who want a really powerful 15-HP-rated motor.
For more details see
http://www.evinrude.com/NR/rdonlyres/ 54CC3687-1C53-4B16-B907-92A1CA30BC4D/0/15HO_Fact_Sheet_FINAL_Eng.pdf
Hilinercc posted 02-26-2010 12:06 PM ET (US)
I've read all the reviews an explanations both here and on the other sites about this motor.
And it just seems to me like theres alot of people (including BRP) that have to do ALOT of explaining to justify the existence of this model.
It still seems like it has a very limited market appeal, and its just plain too heavy for the horsepower range.
I can't help thinking that the 9.9 and 15 smaller models promised years earlier have some problems. Anyone who has used a "kicker" for his big boat or used one on a small skiff knows that this thing's weight is gonna kill it in that market. Can you eevn buy a kicker bracket for a 177 lb kicker?
If this is the future of small motors, then I'll never give up my old OMC 2-strokes!
jimh posted 02-26-2010 01:21 PM ET (US)
I know many people are concerned about the weight of this motor. I find this a bit ironic. When a four-cycle motor weighs 30-percent more than a two-cycle motor, I do not recall anyone saying that creation of the motor was simply done as a marketing gimmick. When four-cycle motors weigh more than competitive motors, we are told that the extra weight is just part of the total package that comes with other advantages. Apply that same logic here. The E-TEC 15 H.O. weighs more than competitive engines, but it has some special features. If it were a four-cycle and the others were two cycle motors, we would just accept the weight as part of the total feature package.
I don't think that a 15-HP motor that weighs 183-lbs is exactly the perfect motor for every application, but I suspect that Evinrude will probably sell everyone they manufacture.
Kingsteven18 posted 02-26-2010 02:15 PM ET (US)
You might as well just use the Yamaha 9.9 High Thrust; at least then you can go on the under 10hp waters.
Hilinercc posted 02-26-2010 02:41 PM ET (US)
You have a good point Capt. Jim, but then again when you refer to "accepting the weight as part of the whole package", perhaps this motor will do best with folks who don't realize that a 15 hp motor shouldn't have to weigh that much. I speak of the new people getting into boating who have never known about the lightweight two-stroke twins of yore.
I'll admit, after spending the last 40 years running 2-stroke outboards, you get kinda comfortable with the snappy acceleration and power. I realize the 4-strokes are better on fuel and more "green", but I never liked their lackluster performance and heavy weight, granted, the new ones are alot better, but they're just not the same. The Verado seems to be the closest.
For small motors below 25 hp, the Etec design seemed to have the most promising future, i.e. it looked as though you could build a little engine on this premise and save alot of weight.
Hopefully, maybe BRP will, until then, alot of older hulls will endure more weight and weaker perfomance as a result.
gyzmo47 posted 02-27-2010 09:40 AM ET (US)
Talked with an ETEC dealer at the London Ontario boat show yesterday and he figures the large 26-30 foot charter guys will like the engine dispite the weight. Power tilt, throttle controls $3495 CDN.
jimh posted 02-27-2010 11:10 AM ET (US)
Many thanks for an accurate citation of the selling price of the E-TEC 15 H.O. motor. Apparently the magazine SALTWATER SPORTSMAN has a great deal of difficulty with currency conversion. They have been cited a number of times in this discussion as a source for the price of the E-TEC 15 H.O., but the price they gave was off by a factor of about 2.5:1. It is good to have accurate information about the selling price of an E-TEC 15 H.O.
To return to the weight of the motor, I have to observe the following:
E-TEC 15 H.O. = 177-lbs
Mercury 15 ProKicker = 132-lbs
The E-TEC weighs 45-lbs more than the ProKicker, or an increase of 34-percent
Consider these motors:
E-TEC 200 H.O. = 418-lbs
Mercury Verado 200 (six-cylinder) = 635-lbs
The Verado weighs 217-lbs more, an increase of 52 percent. I picked the six-cylinder Verado 200-HP because is was also a de-tuned version of a model available in much higher horsepower rating. When Mercury was selling their six-cylinder 200-HP Verado, I do not recall anyone saying it was "just a marketing gimmick."
It is also interesting to note that in an E-TEC 15 H.O. you get increased displacement along with the weight. Compare these specifications:
E-TEC 15 H.O. = 578 cc
Mercury 15 ProKicker = 351 cc
The E-TEC displacement is 227-cc greater, or an increase of 65-percent. So while the weight increases 34-percent, the displacement increases 65-percent. This is the opposite of the Verado paradigm, where increased weight came with reduced displacement.
In light of these comparisons, I don't think the weight of the E-TEC 15 H.O. is so much different than competitive engines that one can say the weight is "ridiculous" or that Evinrude "has got to be kidding," or that the engine is simply "a marketing gimmick." I never heard any of these comments applied to the Verado engines upon their introduction, and, as I show above, their weight was significantly greater than competitive engines. The characterizations given to the Evinrude E-TEC 15 H.O. seem to be to have been applied with a different sort of judgement than was used when the Verado engine was first introduced.
Tom W Clark posted 02-27-2010 11:15 AM ET (US)
This motor is designed as a kicker with it very low gearing and large propeller and electrical power output. Obviously, it is not meant to be used on a 12 foot aluminum car-topper.
For the owner of a 5000-15000 pound fishing boat, the added 45 pounds is going to be irrelevant.
number9 posted 02-27-2010 04:25 PM ET (US)
Add another 26 lbs. to the ETEC 15HO and you can get the Yamaha High Thrust T25. Same low gearing etc. and may have better resale value down the road due to it's higher HP. For the boats we suppose the motor will sell to, other good choices are and have been available. Think about 13' Whalers, the 15/25 choice, few would choose a 15hp.
Not knocking the new motor but think most of us anticipated a miniaturized 30hp motor, not a de-rated version. My $0.02 says they didn't want to invest the bucks to bring the ETEC down to a portable size in the current world economy.
Hilinercc posted 03-01-2010 08:50 AM ET (US)
Unbelieveable,
Okay, here's a question:
Lets say your going to build a 15 hp motor and market it.
Excuse me if I'm wrong, but shouldn't a 15 hp motor be marketed to the guys with 12 and 15 foot skiffs, rather than guys who own top-shelf big boats? This horsepower range is aimed at guys who don't have 20 or 30K to throw down for a boat, but maybe a 14' jon or something like that to fish and take his family out to the sand bar.
Smaller fishing motors (25 and under) have always out-sold big outboards because people of average means can afford them. Thats just common knowledge. With that being said, Capt. Jim's theory of comparing a 15 H.O. attributes to a that of a big Verado is kind of a reach. The 15's shear size and weight is..well...alot.
Portable fishing motors that can be carried from car trunk to transom have always beem immensely popular. I realize that new iterations of this motor will obviously weigh more than the older 2 strokes, but the large market for such a thing is still there.
Again, I think Number 9 has a point, Its not cost effective right now for BRP to tool up and produce a smaller Etec, but they would like something out there below 25 hp.
jimh posted 03-01-2010 09:07 AM ET (US)
Who is "Capt. Jim"?
Hilinercc posted 03-01-2010 02:18 PM ET (US)
You are, jimh, being the commanding officer and skipper of this website.
I refer to you as such out of respect.

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Author	Topic: The E-TEC 15 H.O. Has Arrived
Hilinercc	posted 02-23-2010 11:21 AM ET (US) I just got an email from BRP announcing the the new E-TEC 15 H.O. Looks like they're using the 25-30-HP platform. I'm not sure how a 177-lbs 15-inch or 183-lbs 20-inch 15-HP motor is going to sell, maybe for the pontoon boat guys. With that kind of weight, the 20-HP Mercury-Tohatsu at 115-lbs is gonna kill them. For comparison, my 1973 Johnson 25-HP weighs 85-lbs, and my 1993 Evinrude 25 weighs 115-lbs. It'll be interesting to hear your thoughts.
Buckda	posted 02-23-2010 11:24 AM ET (US) My thought is that I agree - they're gonna get killed, except in the pontoon market (maybe). I think history will judge this as a mistake - they should have waited to introduce the smaller, lighter version they're still developing, then LATER unveil this detuned "HO" engine. The market perception damage will occur now. The new engines (still in development) will have an uphill battle to overcome those perceptions. Mistake. That is my opinion.
number9	posted 02-23-2010 11:45 AM ET (US) Puzzled why they decided to give the HO designation when it's a de-tuned 25/30hp. Granted compared to other 15s available it should prove to be a HO comparatively if used on a boat large enough not to be slowed down by its' weight.
bassguy	posted 02-23-2010 11:46 AM ET (US) You would be hard put to find many pontoon boats (other than the mini 10 foot fishing platforms) sporting a 15 hp these days. The trend in my lakes is towards I/O drives on the pontoons, or at the least 40hp and up (we've got one guy sporting two what must be 100+ engines on a pontoon on a small inland lake, you figure it out!).
andygere	posted 02-23-2010 11:54 AM ET (US) Doesn't seem to play as a kicker. Looks like it might be targeted towards the tin skiff crowd as primary propulsion. Electric T/T sounds nice, but how much weight is that adding? Looks like I'll be running my old 2-smoke Merc 15 a while longer. Re. the H.O. designation, perhaps that's a hint that the small displacement is on the way.
Hilinercc	posted 02-23-2010 12:08 PM ET (US) An engine that heavy on a tin skiff would be brutal, I would also think that it would be a waste on a 13 Whaler when one could get twice the power with the same platform. Interestingly, its being advertised from what looks like a 4-blade power prop, so perhaps speed is not intended here, but still, that would be one HEAVY Kicker.
Don88outrage	posted 02-23-2010 12:27 PM ET (US) Was looking at that motor for a boat I'm building, if it's 177 lbs. I may be looking elseware. Will report back after seeing it this weekend at the Hartford Sportsmans Show, Atlantic Outboard from Westbrook, Ct. will have one there.
contender	posted 02-23-2010 12:33 PM ET (US) I agree Hilinercc and number9, to much weight to little power, Don88outrage purchased a 25 hp yamaha 2 stroke last year, weight in at 105 pounds...
Ridge Runner	posted 02-23-2010 12:36 PM ET (US) Interesting spec's: 20" Shaft 15HP: E-TEC 15HO - 578cc - 177lbs Mercury 15Pro - 323cc - 135lbs Tohatsu 15CEFL - 351cc - 124lbs Yamaha F15 - 362cc - 115lbs Suzuki DF15 - 302cc - 107lbs
mgeiger	posted 02-23-2010 12:45 PM ET (US) Yes maybe pontoon guys on restricted lakes/ponds. Maybe duck boat duty? - I've been offroading per-se in a heavy guage warbird through icy flooded timber in AR, and that motor took a beating. Power wasn't a big deal - just durability.
L H G	posted 02-23-2010 05:01 PM ET (US) A heavy weight 15 Horse High Output engine sounds like a ridiculous idea to me also. They've got to be kidding. What purpose or market niche does a "high performance" 15 fill? None. I basically think it's only a marketing gimick, just so they can show SOMETHING below 25 HP. The other four brands have the below 25 market sewed up, with the black painted Mercury/Tohatsu/Nissan 4-stroke engines the combined volume leader, available through many of the big discounters and Marine catalog stores. Those guys move a lot of engines. Maybe it is targeted at the Bass market, as a heavy weight kicker, to help sell the bigger engines. All of the other bass engines can be matched to a same brand kicker, usually 9.9 HP, with power trim, electric start, etc, so having no matching kicker could be problem for Evinrude. What guy wants to buy a 250HO Etec and match it up to a Merc or Yamaha kicker? Might as well get the Merc Optimax for your big engine too.
fourdfish	posted 02-23-2010 08:30 PM ET (US) I have a 15hp 2stroke Evinrude as a kicker. Who cares what brand kicker you put on the transom? Larry, you probably match your underwear. By marketing that engine until the other lighter weight engine is ready does not hurt BRP. It cost little to de-tune the engine and I just cannot see how it will hurt their image. What perception will it hurt? They may not sell many but I just don't see it hurting them at this time in this market.
DeeVee	posted 02-23-2010 10:54 PM ET (US) Has anyone heard the suggested retail price yet? The March edition of Saltwater Sportsmen reports the price as $8895, with tiller. Yikes! Doug
Russ 13	posted 02-23-2010 11:03 PM ET (US) In this case 15 H.O. must mean 15 HP. HEAVY OUTBOARD. Maybe good for a blowboat kicker.....except for the shaft length & price.What were they thinking??? PPPSSSTT hey buddy would you hand me that Yamaha Diesel outboard....I think it's lighter.
Don88outrage	posted 02-24-2010 08:38 AM ET (US) According to the dealer it outputs the torque equivelant of a 20 hp. Even if that's true, at 177 lbs. and a price of $8895 I'll be looking at the Yamaha's. The 70's era 18-25 hp OMC's we're light enough to lift on or off a transom by an average strength man and we're great long lasting motors. Needing a mechanical lift to put a 15 hp on a transom doesn't seem right.
Hilinercc	posted 02-24-2010 08:56 AM ET (US) It will certainly be interesting to see what service these motors will be put into. I seriously doubt we'll see any large numbers of them. 8k and change seems rather much for a 15, considering the 25 and 30 are under 4k. Perhaps the lightweight 9.9 and 15 hp motors that BRP has been working have some design snags or maybe the current economy makes it cost prohibitive to tool up for a production run at this time. You know they gotta sell alot of the little motors to justify the tooling and production costs.
Buckda	posted 02-24-2010 09:24 AM ET (US) NO WAY the price is $8K. That is just shy of the MSRP for a 90 HP E-TEC.
an86carrera	posted 02-24-2010 09:39 AM ET (US) I have an E-TEC but this one is ridiculous. Len
gnr	posted 02-24-2010 09:45 AM ET (US) The significantly higher displacement over it's competitors will give it a significant increase in torque down low. Probably not a good fit as an auxiliary motor for pleasure boaters but I can see it as potentially being a great little workboat motor. Whether or not the market for that application is large enough to support adequate sales remains to be seen.
Salty Tricks	posted 02-24-2010 10:01 AM ET (US) I saw in the current Saltwater Sportsman that they have this previewed as a 4 stroke with the aforementioned $8,895 price tag.
Buckda	posted 02-24-2010 10:06 AM ET (US) I have a feeling that the editors at Saltwater Sportsman were asleep on the job recently. 1. It is not a Four stroke. 2. I have serious and deep seated doubt that the MSRP is $8,000++
Buckda	posted 02-24-2010 10:41 AM ET (US) Try $3,395.
Teak Oil	posted 02-24-2010 11:45 AM ET (US) It would be the king of the lake on bodies of water with a 15hp limit I guess
Don88outrage	posted 02-24-2010 12:00 PM ET (US) Interesting reading on E-Tec 15 HO in this similar discussion on another website.
L H G	posted 02-24-2010 01:46 PM ET (US) If it complies with the ten-percent rule, it's power is only 16.5HP.
Ridge Runner	posted 02-24-2010 02:22 PM ET (US) Interesting insights (not mine) on the 15 H.O.: [Long cut an paste given without attribution from an article posted on another website which has frequently been cited.]
DeeVee	posted 02-24-2010 11:44 PM ET (US) I look forward to the official pricing information. $8895 seemed totally over the top to me. As Dave said, Saltwater Sportsman editors may have been asleep at the wheel. $3395 seems way more in line. Doug Vazquez
rong	posted 02-25-2010 12:22 AM ET (US) Call Eds Marine. I'm sure they can give you a price.
number9	posted 02-25-2010 12:51 AM ET (US) Though not listed, think it's fair to say pricing will be close to their 25hp. Again as mentioned, if on a HP limited weight pushing a heavier boat it should be a good choice over smaller displacement motors. It may also be a good choice for some offshore fishing boats with higher HP twins/inboards without transom weight issues to use as a kicker just to reduce main engine hours. It may weight the same as an E-Tec 35/30 but there seams to be a reluctance to using using a kicker badged higher than the norm. Do not see it flying off the shelves but should have a niche market until/if BRP develops some kickers we can relate to.
jimh	posted 02-26-2010 01:01 AM ET (US) The E-TEC 15 H.O. appears to be targeted to certain applications such as: --trolling motor --horse-power limited applications As a trolling motor Features of the 15 H.O. are said to include throttle response that permits very precise engine speed control. This will be important to anglers using a trolling technique who need to set the trolling speed with accuracy and consistency. The 15 H.O. has the E-TEC feature of Touch Troll, an advanced electronic speed control which can vary engine speed up or down in 50-RPM increments. The engine can also idle as low as 620-RPM. The propeller design is also apparently optimized to permit excellent thrust. Good reverse thrust is also useful for a fishing technique in which the boat is trolled in reverse (called "back trolling"). The engine mounting bracket is also apparently engineered to survive extreme loads seen in modern fishing boats. These boats are often driven extremely hard in rough conditions. The mounting bracket is apparently designed to tolerate the sort of stress and loading that can result from flying through waves at high speeds. The 15 H.O. also has high alternator charging current output. Modern fishing boats often have significant electrical loads and can consume a lot of electrical current. The alternator provides 15-amperes of charging current, about double of other motors in the horsepower class. Horsepower limited applications For waters where horsepower limits are imposed, the 15 H.O. should be a candidate for those who want a really powerful 15-HP-rated motor. For more details see http://www.evinrude.com/NR/rdonlyres/ 54CC3687-1C53-4B16-B907-92A1CA30BC4D/0/15HO_Fact_Sheet_FINAL_Eng.pdf
Hilinercc	posted 02-26-2010 12:06 PM ET (US) I've read all the reviews an explanations both here and on the other sites about this motor. And it just seems to me like theres alot of people (including BRP) that have to do ALOT of explaining to justify the existence of this model. It still seems like it has a very limited market appeal, and its just plain too heavy for the horsepower range. I can't help thinking that the 9.9 and 15 smaller models promised years earlier have some problems. Anyone who has used a "kicker" for his big boat or used one on a small skiff knows that this thing's weight is gonna kill it in that market. Can you eevn buy a kicker bracket for a 177 lb kicker? If this is the future of small motors, then I'll never give up my old OMC 2-strokes!
jimh	posted 02-26-2010 01:21 PM ET (US) I know many people are concerned about the weight of this motor. I find this a bit ironic. When a four-cycle motor weighs 30-percent more than a two-cycle motor, I do not recall anyone saying that creation of the motor was simply done as a marketing gimmick. When four-cycle motors weigh more than competitive motors, we are told that the extra weight is just part of the total package that comes with other advantages. Apply that same logic here. The E-TEC 15 H.O. weighs more than competitive engines, but it has some special features. If it were a four-cycle and the others were two cycle motors, we would just accept the weight as part of the total feature package. I don't think that a 15-HP motor that weighs 183-lbs is exactly the perfect motor for every application, but I suspect that Evinrude will probably sell everyone they manufacture.
Kingsteven18	posted 02-26-2010 02:15 PM ET (US) You might as well just use the Yamaha 9.9 High Thrust; at least then you can go on the under 10hp waters.
Hilinercc	posted 02-26-2010 02:41 PM ET (US) You have a good point Capt. Jim, but then again when you refer to "accepting the weight as part of the whole package", perhaps this motor will do best with folks who don't realize that a 15 hp motor shouldn't have to weigh that much. I speak of the new people getting into boating who have never known about the lightweight two-stroke twins of yore. I'll admit, after spending the last 40 years running 2-stroke outboards, you get kinda comfortable with the snappy acceleration and power. I realize the 4-strokes are better on fuel and more "green", but I never liked their lackluster performance and heavy weight, granted, the new ones are alot better, but they're just not the same. The Verado seems to be the closest. For small motors below 25 hp, the Etec design seemed to have the most promising future, i.e. it looked as though you could build a little engine on this premise and save alot of weight. Hopefully, maybe BRP will, until then, alot of older hulls will endure more weight and weaker perfomance as a result.
gyzmo47	posted 02-27-2010 09:40 AM ET (US) Talked with an ETEC dealer at the London Ontario boat show yesterday and he figures the large 26-30 foot charter guys will like the engine dispite the weight. Power tilt, throttle controls $3495 CDN.
jimh	posted 02-27-2010 11:10 AM ET (US) Many thanks for an accurate citation of the selling price of the E-TEC 15 H.O. motor. Apparently the magazine SALTWATER SPORTSMAN has a great deal of difficulty with currency conversion. They have been cited a number of times in this discussion as a source for the price of the E-TEC 15 H.O., but the price they gave was off by a factor of about 2.5:1. It is good to have accurate information about the selling price of an E-TEC 15 H.O. To return to the weight of the motor, I have to observe the following: E-TEC 15 H.O. = 177-lbs Mercury 15 ProKicker = 132-lbs The E-TEC weighs 45-lbs more than the ProKicker, or an increase of 34-percent Consider these motors: E-TEC 200 H.O. = 418-lbs Mercury Verado 200 (six-cylinder) = 635-lbs The Verado weighs 217-lbs more, an increase of 52 percent. I picked the six-cylinder Verado 200-HP because is was also a de-tuned version of a model available in much higher horsepower rating. When Mercury was selling their six-cylinder 200-HP Verado, I do not recall anyone saying it was "just a marketing gimmick." It is also interesting to note that in an E-TEC 15 H.O. you get increased displacement along with the weight. Compare these specifications: E-TEC 15 H.O. = 578 cc Mercury 15 ProKicker = 351 cc The E-TEC displacement is 227-cc greater, or an increase of 65-percent. So while the weight increases 34-percent, the displacement increases 65-percent. This is the opposite of the Verado paradigm, where increased weight came with reduced displacement. In light of these comparisons, I don't think the weight of the E-TEC 15 H.O. is so much different than competitive engines that one can say the weight is "ridiculous" or that Evinrude "has got to be kidding," or that the engine is simply "a marketing gimmick." I never heard any of these comments applied to the Verado engines upon their introduction, and, as I show above, their weight was significantly greater than competitive engines. The characterizations given to the Evinrude E-TEC 15 H.O. seem to be to have been applied with a different sort of judgement than was used when the Verado engine was first introduced.
Tom W Clark	posted 02-27-2010 11:15 AM ET (US) This motor is designed as a kicker with it very low gearing and large propeller and electrical power output. Obviously, it is not meant to be used on a 12 foot aluminum car-topper. For the owner of a 5000-15000 pound fishing boat, the added 45 pounds is going to be irrelevant.
number9	posted 02-27-2010 04:25 PM ET (US) Add another 26 lbs. to the ETEC 15HO and you can get the Yamaha High Thrust T25. Same low gearing etc. and may have better resale value down the road due to it's higher HP. For the boats we suppose the motor will sell to, other good choices are and have been available. Think about 13' Whalers, the 15/25 choice, few would choose a 15hp. Not knocking the new motor but think most of us anticipated a miniaturized 30hp motor, not a de-rated version. My $0.02 says they didn't want to invest the bucks to bring the ETEC down to a portable size in the current world economy.
Hilinercc	posted 03-01-2010 08:50 AM ET (US) Unbelieveable, Okay, here's a question: Lets say your going to build a 15 hp motor and market it. Excuse me if I'm wrong, but shouldn't a 15 hp motor be marketed to the guys with 12 and 15 foot skiffs, rather than guys who own top-shelf big boats? This horsepower range is aimed at guys who don't have 20 or 30K to throw down for a boat, but maybe a 14' jon or something like that to fish and take his family out to the sand bar. Smaller fishing motors (25 and under) have always out-sold big outboards because people of average means can afford them. Thats just common knowledge. With that being said, Capt. Jim's theory of comparing a 15 H.O. attributes to a that of a big Verado is kind of a reach. The 15's shear size and weight is..well...alot. Portable fishing motors that can be carried from car trunk to transom have always beem immensely popular. I realize that new iterations of this motor will obviously weigh more than the older 2 strokes, but the large market for such a thing is still there. Again, I think Number 9 has a point, Its not cost effective right now for BRP to tool up and produce a smaller Etec, but they would like something out there below 25 hp.
jimh	posted 03-01-2010 09:07 AM ET (US) Who is "Capt. Jim"?
Hilinercc	posted 03-01-2010 02:18 PM ET (US) You are, jimh, being the commanding officer and skipper of this website. I refer to you as such out of respect.